Va. Sen. Locke Helps Petition

HAMPTON — The petition drive to get the recall of Randy Gilliland on the ballot had help from several of the city's best known black politicians.

State Sen. Mamie Locke collected more than 80 signatures on petitions that she signed verifying that she witnessed the people sign.

Locke served as mayor for three years before abandoning that post in 2003 to run for state Senate.

Hampton Watch has spearheaded the campaign to oust Gilliland from office because of his role in firing former City Manager George Wallace.

Locke was among about 40 people who circulated petitions in the past few months. When Wallace's supporters came 71 signatures short of advancing the recall campaign to the second stage, Locke helped gather more signatures to close the gap.

Among the more than 1,400 people who signed the petitions were two people who lost in the last election -- Loretta Parham and former Councilman Paige Washington.